Travels in Dublin, Lille and Elsewhere

In 5 weeks I should have arrived in Dublin. This is one of the  few pictures  I have  taken within the campus of Trinity College


Dublin is a lovely city marred only by the lack of sunshine between October and the September ( of  the consecutive year)













The next photo was taken in December last year on what would be considered a lovely day - for that time of year - and even on that lovely day   the natural light at mid day was very low

An old friend once said that being met at stations and airports is one of the nicest things in life and I agree. I shall arrive direct from Singapore and will be collected. This is such a bonus after a long haul flight or any absence that lasts  over a month. There is so much to share and so much anticipation

Arriving without  an awaiting onward travel companion is not a problem and Dublin Airport is well served by coachs and local cheaper buses that will link you to Dublin City and beyond. You just exit the airport and look for a blue coach called the Aircoach, the driver will take your fare. Other destinations  are also catered for but some may be served by coaches located in a coach park a little further afield - ask at information desk inside the terminal

  

Theres are my lovely flowers they have been enhancing my living room all weeek. So each evening after work I have been welcomed by a wonderful aroma .

After a month in  Dublin a short trip to Cardiff, London, Lille and Amsterdam is organised

In July it will be Lille, a large city in Northern France . My main reason for this return visit is my infatuation with the Eurostar rail network . I love how you can sit in  a Brussels Bar for lunch and then on a whim decide to have dinner in London, only the very rich in their jets could do this before 1994 .

This lovely building above is in Brussels


 I became interested in the city of Lille in 1995 just following the opening of the channel tunnel, . Amazing that the first train between London and Paris  departed in   1994, in spite of the fact that  the idea for it and the ability to construct the tunnel   was available in 1800.

 This  Euorostar route  offers the  rail link between UK and main land Europe and  the line also accomodates motor vehicles.

 For my first trip Paris was the obvious destination  but along the way was Lille. Lille had traditionally  had bad press as an industrial sprawl, I had never entertained a visit. Nobody mentioned the three lovely squares, the opera house or the narrow cobbled streets -  a feast for the eyes. Plus Lille with its Flemish influence is more like Belgium with cafes and  bars serving moule frites and brown beer . You can even walk from Gare Lillle Europe ( the station for London or Paris) to the town centre.

From Lille you can take trains to all over France. One such place is Collioure in the South of France which features in my next picture